Council's £18m section 106 money yet to be used

Section 106 money can be used for certain plans, such as redeveloping the Arts Centre, above

IT HAS been revealed that Swindon Council has £18m of unallocated funds from building developers, the largest of any local authority.

The BBC sent Freedom Of Information Requests to all local authorities to find out how much section 106 money has not been used.

Criticism has been aimed at council leaders for not using the cash but they say it is normal practice to have the cash.

Section 106 is a fund which is negotiated between developers and the council whenever a large development is carried out.

Examples of its use can be seen in plans to redevelop the Locarno and the Arts Centre, as well as the building of a new primary school at Tadpole Farm.

The money can be used towards projects to help improve the community such as roads, community halls and play areas.

The Swindon Council money is currently in an account earning interest.

There are limits on what it can be used for and much of the funding has a time limit, so if it is not spent in a set period of time then it is returned to the developer.

In 2011, complications surrounding a section 106 agreement in North Swindon cost the area £4m which was due to be spent on building a road linking Haydon Wick with the town centre.

Concerns have been raised that there is a risk this money could also be lost to the town.

Coun Mark Dempsey (Lab, Walcot and Park North) and the Parliamentary candidate for North Swindon said: “This is yet another example of the Conservative council mis-managing the town’s finances.

“There is a shortage of school spaces and heavy congestion on the roads around North Swindon when there is money available which is not being used.

“I think we need a full review into how section 106 money is managed so we can make sure the people of Swindon receive the full benefit of the funds so it is not lost again.”

However, Coun Dale Heenan (Con, Covingham and Dorcan), the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Sustainability said: “There is absolutely no risk of us losing any of the money. “It is perfectly normal for us to have a certain amount waiting for use. The best analogy is a deposit. We receive an amount and when it is ready for use we get the rest.

“There are a lot of developments going on in Swindon at the moment, so it is going to be higher.

“There were 635 houses built last year and we get between £10-£15,000 per house.

“Coun Dempsey should know better and is simply confusing the public and making the council’s job harder.”

Comments (14)

Could the Council please provide the people of Swindon with a detailed list of monies and what they intend to do with the £18 million.

Who has the authority to decide how and where the money will be spent, is it the councillors or the officers.

If it is the council, do all councillors decide at the full council or do cabinet members or officers have a veto.

All of this needs to be clearly spelt out to the tax payers of Swindon.

Cllr Reynard should give us this information without delay and before the need for more FOI questions.

Could the Council please provide the people of Swindon with a detailed list of monies and what they intend to do with the £18 million.
Who has the authority to decide how and where the money will be spent, is it the councillors or the officers.
If it is the council, do all councillors decide at the full council or do cabinet members or officers have a veto.
All of this needs to be clearly spelt out to the tax payers of Swindon.
Cllr Reynard should give us this information without delay and before the need for more FOI questions.trolley dolley

They could restore The Mechanics' and use it to house shops to link the town centre to The Outlet centre.

They could repair the roads or improve the infrastucture.

Nah! It's SBC.
They'll probably add it to the wi-fi pot

They could restore The Mechanics' and use it to house shops to link the town centre to The Outlet centre.
They could repair the roads or improve the infrastucture.
Nah! It's SBC.
They'll probably add it to the wi-fi potEmpty Car Park

While I absolutely agree with the first post, that the money should be invested as soon and as productively as possible, the person in the second post needs to get a much better grasp on what £18m actually buys these days.

While I absolutely agree with the first post, that the money should be invested as soon and as productively as possible, the person in the second post needs to get a much better grasp on what £18m actually buys these days.ChannelX

Perhaps they should invest in Icelandic banks like lots of other LA's did. Amazing how this council constantly claim poverty when it seems the reality is different. Just imagine how much money the Borough would have if the Council actually sold land for development rather than giving it to them and then buying that built back, ala Car Park, social housing etc.

Perhaps they should invest in Icelandic banks like lots of other LA's did. Amazing how this council constantly claim poverty when it seems the reality is different. Just imagine how much money the Borough would have if the Council actually sold land for development rather than giving it to them and then buying that built back, ala Car Park, social housing etc.RichardR1

Empty Car Park wrote:
They could restore The Mechanics' and use it to house shops to link the town centre to The Outlet centre.

They could repair the roads or improve the infrastucture.

Nah! It's SBC.
They'll probably add it to the wi-fi pot

I think it would take an awful lot more than £18 million to restore the Mechanics sadly.

[quote][p][bold]Empty Car Park[/bold] wrote:
They could restore The Mechanics' and use it to house shops to link the town centre to The Outlet centre.
They could repair the roads or improve the infrastucture.
Nah! It's SBC.
They'll probably add it to the wi-fi pot[/p][/quote]I think it would take an awful lot more than £18 million to restore the Mechanics sadly.The Artist formally known as Grumpy Old Man

I'd have also thought that even you would have realised how sick to death people are of your childish goading and the resulting spats on this website.

You aren't funny and you most certainly aren't anything remotely close to being clever.

People are sick of it, so why on earth to you continually act the ****, post off-topic and try to create these inane exchanges.

Give it a rest.

[quote][p][bold]Empty Car Park[/bold] wrote:
Channel Ringer :-)[/p][/quote]I'd have also thought that even you would have realised how sick to death people are of your childish goading and the resulting spats on this website.
You aren't funny and you most certainly aren't anything remotely close to being clever.
People are sick of it, so why on earth to you continually act the ****, post off-topic and try to create these inane exchanges.
Give it a rest.ChannelX

[quote][p][bold]Empty Car Park[/bold] wrote:
For pointless goading read comment 3 ;-)[/p][/quote]Nope, unfortunately not. The point was entirely valid, as was then backed up by another contributor. £18m doesn't buy very much of what you seem to think it does.
Try again... and stop goading people. Don't you realise that nobody thinks you're clever and that they're sick of your stupid, mindless vendettas?ChannelX

Nope, unfortunately not. It is only YOU who continually tries to goad people, continually lies about multiple logins and continually makes childish little off-topic snips at every opportunity.

Don't you realise that people are sick of reading it?

Personally, I couldn't care less what you do because your posts merely serve to remind everyone what you are like as a person and I find it highly amusing. Especially the dancing.

You carry on irritating the entire readership if that's what you think is a good idea.

[quote][p][bold]Empty Car Park[/bold] wrote:
Ditto[/p][/quote]Nope, unfortunately not. It is only YOU who continually tries to goad people, continually lies about multiple logins and continually makes childish little off-topic snips at every opportunity.
Don't you realise that people are sick of reading it?
Personally, I couldn't care less what you do because your posts merely serve to remind everyone what you are like as a person and I find it highly amusing. Especially the dancing.
You carry on irritating the entire readership if that's what you think is a good idea.ChannelX

Empty Car Park wrote:
I promise to continue everything that I presently do in life.
Regardless of wether you like it or not.
Regardless of your &quot;robust treatment" threats

That's fine, you carry on irritating everyone. Well done.

Although, you can't really promise to continue living in the same house - can you?

[quote][p][bold]Empty Car Park[/bold] wrote:
I promise to continue everything that I presently do in life.
Regardless of wether you like it or not.
Regardless of your "robust treatment" threats[/p][/quote]That's fine, you carry on irritating everyone. Well done.
Although, you can't really promise to continue living in the same house - can you?ChannelX